From April 20 to 24, a Russian delegation, comprising representatives of Rosmolodezh and the World Youth Festival Directorate, was on a working visit to Argentina. The key topics of the trip were the International Festival of Youth 2026, the development of humanitarian cooperation, and expanding the participation of Latin American countries in Russian youth projects. The Russian delegation held a series of meetings with representatives of government agencies, international organizations, universities, youth associations, and the media.
Latin American youth are showing great interest in the International Festival of Youth 2026: to date, more than 8,000 applications have been received from the region, including over 300 from Argentina and about 70 from Chile. On the first day of the visit, the Russian delegation presented key youth projects at the National University of Avellaneda and the Russian House in Buenos Aires: around 200 representatives from Argentina learned about the national project “Youth and Children” and the largest youth event of 2026—the International Festival of Youth.
“Today, the upbringing of the younger generation, as well as the development and support of children and youth, is a national priority for Russia. We see that our approaches to working with youth are shared by colleagues from other countries, including here in Argentina. And we are ready to share our experience—Russia is open to the world. Many thanks to our Argentine colleagues for the warm welcome, open dialogue, and willingness to work together,” noted Leila Zotova, Deputy Head of Rosmolodezh.
Representatives of Rosmolodezh and the World Youth Festival Directorate met with Francisco Caporichio, a young deputy in the Legislative Assembly of the City of Buenos Aires, and with Itay Hegman, a member of the Chamber of Deputies in the country’s National Congress, and also visited the Russian Embassy in Argentina.
Special attention was paid to regional cooperation withing the framework of the visit. The delegation visited the municipalities of Merlo and Itusaingo, where they met with the mayors of Merlo, Gustavo Menendez, and Itusaingo, Pablo Catriel, as well as representatives of local administrations. The parties discussed the involvement of youth in international projects at the regional level and the development of humanitarian ties.
The meeting took place in La Plata, the administrative capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, at the Office of Youth Affairs of the Province of Buenos Aires, under the Ministry of Community Development of the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires. The meeting focused on issues of youth engagement, international cooperation, and solidarity policies. In addition, meetings were held with Mariana Vázquez, Director of International Relations at the Ministry of Community Development; Mauricio Fabián Erben, Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences at the National University of La Plata; and members of the Chamber of Deputies in the Buenos Aires Provincial Congress.
As part of the visit, representatives of the World Youth Festival Directorate also visited the province of Catamarca and met with Governor Raúl Jalil, the Rector of the National University of Catamarca, Oscar Arrellano, and the deans of the faculties. A presentation of the International Festival of Youth 2026 was held at the university residence.
On the final day of the visit to Argentina, a meeting was also held with Mariano Salas, Director of Youth Affairs at the Senate of the Province of Catamarca, Argentine Republic. He noted that the International Festival of Youth 2026 is an important platform for dialogue on social, educational, and cultural issues, which helps shape a shared multipolar future.
“In my opinion, the goal of events such as the International Festival of Youth is to promote unity, international cooperation, peace, and solidarity among young people around the world. Bringing together youth from different countries is crucial: it fosters global citizenship, helps overcome cultural barriers, and strengthens cooperation in addressing contemporary challenges. By exchanging ideas and experiences, young people develop the empathy, resilience, and leadership skills necessary to build a more inclusive world,” said Mariano Salas, Director of Youth Affairs at the Senate Chamber of the Province of Catamarca, Argentine Republic.
As part of efforts to strengthen international youth cooperation with Latin American countries, representatives of the WYFD also paid a working visit to Chile. They participated in the Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Countries on Sustainable Development, held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
On the sidelines of the forum, meetings were held with representatives of UNESCO Chile and the UN Youth Reference Group. The parties discussed the involvement of young leaders from the region in the international agenda and their participation in projects of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
One of the key events was the Russian delegation’s meeting with Mauricio Fuentes, National Director of Volunteering and Civic Participation, at the National Youth Institute of Chile. During the visit, representatives of the WYFD also held a series of meetings with Vladimir Belinsky, Russia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Chile, and Fares Jadue, Mayor of the Recoleta Municipality. The participants discussed plans to engage the country’s youth in the International Festival of Youth 2026 and to expand Russian-Chilean relations in the field of youth policy.
About 60 young people from Chile also learned about the International Festival of Youth during a presentation at the cultural center of the Lo Prado municipality. The delegation held talks with Recoleta Mayor Fares Hadoue Leiva, resulting in agreements to jointly promote the Festival and expand cooperation at the municipal level. Special attention was given to the educational track: meetings were held at the University of Chile and Bernardo O’Higgins University, where opportunities for student and faculty participation in the IFY–2026 were discussed.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 at “Sirius”, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod in 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will gather 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation and developing a community of young people who care about the future of the world.